Imane Khelif Begins Professional Boxing Career Next Month

Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif is slated to make her professional boxing debut in Paris on December 15. This upcoming event marks her first competitive appearance in the ring since she secured welterweight gold in the French capital during the 2024 Olympics. Khelif, a prominent athlete for Algeria, holds a professional license issued by France's boxing federation, signifying a new chapter in her distinguished career.

Khelif's inaugural professional bout will see her compete in the super-welterweight class against Clarida Sarabia. The 27-year-old boxer, alongside her coach Kamel Abdesselam and promoter Yacin Berrabah, announced the details of her return during a recent news conference. Her professional debut was previously delayed in April due to a training injury, making this December return highly anticipated.

Reflecting on her journey, Khelif stated it has been over two years since her last bout and expressed how much she missed being in the ring. She acknowledged that the past couple of years have been quite difficult, noting that “the time has come to turn professional, and I'm going to give it my all.” Her coach, Kamel Abdesselam, has expressed strong confidence in Khelif's potential, suggesting she could achieve a world title within three to five fights and drawing comparisons to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, stating, “We want to put Imane on top of the world.” This demonstrates a strong positive outlook for her future contributions to Algerian sports.